Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Weird Answer From Tetley Canada

gabby

Recommended Posts

gabby Enthusiast
gabby
Posted

I sent an e-mail to Tetley Canada to ask them about their Pure Camomile tea which has a nutrition label that says each cup contains 15mg of sodium. I wanted to know the source of the sodium. (note: no other brands of herbal teas contain sodium at all). I only noticed the sodium thing because I kept getting a headache after drinking this tea, and finally checked the label to see if it had anything added like a flavoring or maybe some caffeinated black tea.

I got this weird answer today. What do you think?

The sodium is from the camomile and the water. The nutritional data is

based on average analysis of the infusion in tap water. Tap water

contains sodium and some is also naturally present in the camomile.

Thank you for choosing Tetley

Huh? Since when does a nutrition label include elements of things that you might add to the product after buying it? I've never seen instant coffee labels take tap water into consideration.

I'm not losing any sleep over this or anything, but it just has me wondering why we bother having labelling laws at all if companies don't take them very seriously. Also, I'm wondering if the guy at Tetley was making fun of me...I hope not :(

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


2Boys4Me Enthusiast
2Boys4Me
Posted

I would phone Tetley and talk to an actual human being. Then you can ask about the whole tap water thing - which is pretty weird, in my opinion. What if you're at work and using bottled water, or hot filtered water from a cooler? Not everyone uses tap water. Maybe you have well water.

penguin Community Regular
penguin
Posted

Personally, I steer clear of any company that's going to jerk me around like that <_<

Go for another brand.

Guest Robbin
Guest Robbin
Posted

I agree with ChelsE-Get another brand. This is way too weird. How can they know what water you will use? Also, maybe you are developing an allergy to chamomile.

gf4life Enthusiast
gf4life
Posted

I got headaches when I would drink Chamomile tea, too. But I always thought it was the honey that I was sweetening it with that was giving me the headache. I really don't like the taste of Chamomile, so I stopped drinking that, but I also avoid honey until I confirm wheather or not that was the cause of the headaches...

I don't drink Tetley, I am a Celestial Seasonings customer and I appreciate that they have labeled their teas gluten-free teas as being gluten free for many years!

SharonF Contributor
SharonF
Posted

I believe chamomille is in the ragweed family, and people with allergies to ragweed can also have problems with chamomille tea. Perhaps that is the source of your headache?

gabby Enthusiast
gabby
Posted
  • Author

I don't get headaches from drinking other brands of camomile (like Celestial Seasonings! yum)

I am not an expert in labelling, nor in food ingredients. So I sent my question (and Tetley's bizarre answer) to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. They were VERY interested in this situation.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


penguin Community Regular
penguin
Posted
I don't get headaches from drinking other brands of camomile (like Celestial Seasonings! yum)

I am not an expert in labelling, nor in food ingredients. So I sent my question (and Tetley's bizarre answer) to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. They were VERY interested in this situation.

Good call! :)

gf4life Enthusiast
gf4life
Posted
I believe chamomille is in the ragweed family, and people with allergies to ragweed can also have problems with chamomille tea. Perhaps that is the source of your headache?

That is possible, too. When I had my allergy testing done as an adult they said that I was severely allergic to Alfalfa, Dust Mites and something else that always slips my mind and mildly allergic to EVERYTHING ELSE! So ragweed would be on that list...

lovegrov Collaborator
lovegrov
Posted

No matter what their reply was (and it doesn't ound like they were jerking you around) there's no need to ever be concerned about the source of sodium. It will NOT contain gluten.

richard

gabby Enthusiast
gabby
Posted
  • Author

If the sodium is coming from a flavouring compound, then there is a chance that it could contain gluten.

lovegrov Collaborator
lovegrov
Posted

"If the sodium is coming from a flavouring compound, then there is a chance that it could contain gluten."

I don't understand. Seems to me the flavoring would then be the source of the gluten, not the sodium. Do you have a real-life example?

richard

munchkinette Collaborator
munchkinette
Posted

You might be thinking of monosodium glutamate. I've seen that in the "maybe" category, but only because of traces from the source. The compund itself is just another chemical. "Salt" is a generic term but actual sodium is just sodium. The only place you really get sodium is from regular table salt (super cheap), which is sodium chloride. I think companies would have to TRY to get plain sodium from a different source, and that would be really expensive.

I would guess that the customer service rep was just stupid, not trying to be a jerk. I used to work in retail and I couldn't believe some of the stuff people made up because they didn't know the answer.

  • 3 weeks later...
ms-sillyak-screwed Enthusiast
ms-sillyak-screwed
Posted

chamomille is in the RAGWEED family so if you have other allergies that might be the reason. It happens to me too...

Today I made phone calls to food companies again. I wanted to know what the NATURAL FLAVORS are in CELESTIAL SEASONING TEAS. I was shocked at the answer... the womans said I can't and won't tell you. It's proprietary and they don't have to tell us. She said it doesn't have Gluten but beyond that she wouldn't tell me anything.

pro·pri·e·tar·y

adj.

Of, relating to, or suggestive of a proprietor or to proprietors as a group: had proprietary rights; behaved with a proprietary air in his friend's house.

Exclusively owned; private: a proprietary hospital.

Owned by a private individual or corporation under a trademark or patent: a proprietary drug.

SO IF YOU HAVE A SECONDARY FOOD ALLERGY or intolerance to something like SOY (I call it poison) or anything other them gluten stay clear of these teas! If you are AREN'T getting better this might be the reason.

psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted

"Salt" on a food label means table salt in Canada and in the US. It will be sodium chloride (NaCl) with trace amounts of sodium iodide (NaI) added. "Sea Salt" is pure sodium chloride (NaCl). Any other compound which is chemically a salt will be identified by its proper name, such as monosodium glutamate (the sodium salt of glutamic acid), commonly called MSG.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to rei.b's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      14

      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      @rei.b, I understand how frustrating starting a new way of eating can be. I tried all sorts of gluten-free processed foods and just kept feeling worse. My health didn't improve until I started the low histamine AIP diet. It makes a big difference. Gluten fits into opioid receptors in our bodies. So, removing gluten can cause withdrawal symptoms...
    2. captaincrab55
      - captaincrab55 replied to lmemsm's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      11

      Finding gluten free ingredients

      Imemsm, Most of us have experienced discontinued, not currently available or products that suddenly become seasonal. My biggest fear about relocating from Maryland to Florida 5 years ago, was being able to find gluten-free foods that fit my restricted diet. I soon found out that the Win Dixie and Publix supper markets actually has 99% of their gluten-free...
    3. rei.b
      - rei.b replied to rei.b's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      14

      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      Okay well the info about TTG-A actually makes a lot of sense and I wish the PA had explained that to me. But yes, I would assume I would have intestinal damage from eating a lot of gluten for 32 years while having all these symptoms. As far as avoiding gluten foods - I was definitely not doing that. Bread, pasta, quesadillas (with flour tortillas) and...
    4. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to rei.b's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      14

      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      So you're saying that you think you should have severe intestinal damage since you've had the symptoms so long? DGP IgG antibodies are produced in response to a partial gluten molecule. This is different than what tissue transglutaminase antibodies are produced in response to. TTg IgA antibodies are produced in the intestines in response to...
    5. rei.b
      - rei.b replied to rei.b's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      14

      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      I was tested for celiac at the same time, so I wasn't taking naltrexone yet. I say that, because I don't. The endoscopy showed some mild inflammation but was inconclusive as to celiac disease. They took several biopsies and that's all that was shown. I was not given a Marsh score.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,130
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Tony White
    Newest Member
    Tony White
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @rei.b,  I understand how frustrating starting a new way of eating can be.  I tried all sorts of gluten-free processed foods and just kept feeling worse.  My health didn't improve until I started the low histamine AIP diet.  It makes a big difference.   Gluten fits into opioid receptors in our bodies.  So, removing gluten can cause withdrawal symptoms and reveals the underlying discomfort.  SIBO can cause digestive symptoms.  SIBO can prevent vitamins from being absorbed by the intestines.  Thiamine insufficiency causes Gastrointestinal Beriberi (bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea or constipation).  Thiamine is the B vitamin that runs out first because it can only be stored for two weeks.  We need more thiamine when we're sick or under emotional stress.  Gastric Beriberi is under recognised by doctors.  An Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test is more accurate than a blood test for thiamine deficiency, but the best way to see if you're low in thiamine is to take it and look for health improvement.  Don't take Thiamine Mononitrate because the body can't utilize it well.  Try Benfotiamine.  Thiamine is water soluble, nontoxic and safe even at high doses.  I thought it was crazy, too, but simple vitamins and minerals are important.  The eight B vitamins work together, so a B Complex, Benfotiamine,  magnesium and Vitamin D really helped get my body to start healing, along with the AIP diet.  Once you heal, you add foods back in, so the AIP diet is worth doing for a few months. I do hope you'll consider the AIP diet and Benfotiamine.
    • captaincrab55
      Finding gluten free ingredients

      By captaincrab55 · Posted

      Imemsm, Most of us have experienced discontinued, not currently available or products that suddenly become seasonal.   My biggest fear about relocating from Maryland to Florida 5 years ago, was being able to find gluten-free foods that fit my restricted diet.  I soon found out that the Win Dixie and Publix supper markets actually has 99% of their gluten-free foods tagged, next to the price.  The gluten-free tags opened up a  lot of foods that aren't actually marked gluten-free by the manufacture.  Now I only need to check for my other dietary restrictions.  Where my son lives in New Hartford, New York there's a Hannaford Supermarket that also has a gluten-free tag next to the price tag.  Hopefully you can locate a Supermarket within a reasonable travel distance that you can learn what foods to check out at a Supermarket close to you.  I have dermatitis herpetiformis too and I'm very sensitive to gluten and the three stores I named were very gluten-free friendly.  Good Luck 
    • rei.b
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By rei.b · Posted

      Okay well the info about TTG-A actually makes a lot of sense and I wish the PA had explained that to me. But yes, I would assume I would have intestinal damage from eating a lot of gluten for 32 years while having all these symptoms. As far as avoiding gluten foods - I was definitely not doing that. Bread, pasta, quesadillas (with flour tortillas) and crackers are my 4 favorite foods and I ate at least one of those things multiple times a day e.g. breakfast with eggs and toast, a cheese quesadilla for lunch, and pasta for dinner, and crackers and cheese as a before bed snack. I'm not even kidding.  I'm not really big on sugar, so I don't really do sweets. I don't have any of those conditions.  I am not sure if I have the genes or not. When the geneticist did my genetic testing for EDS this year, I didn't think to ask for him to request the celiac genes so they didn't test for them, unfortunately.  I guess another expectation I had is  that if gluten was the issue, the gluten-free diet would make me feel better, and I'm 3 months in and that hasn't been the case. I am being very careful and reading every label because I didn't want to screw this up and have to do gluten-free for longer than necessary if I end up not having celiac. I'm literally checking everything, even tea and anything else prepacked like caramel dip. Honestly its making me anxious 😅
    • knitty kitty
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      So you're saying that you think you should have severe intestinal damage since you've had the symptoms so long?   DGP IgG antibodies are produced in response to a partial gluten molecule.  This is different than what tissue transglutaminase antibodies are  produced in response to.   TTg IgA antibodies are produced in the intestines in response to gluten.  The tTg IgA antibodies attack our own cells because a structural component in our cell membranes resembles a part of gluten.  There's a correlation between the level of intestinal damage with the level of tTg antibodies produced.  You are not producing a high number of tTg IgA antibodies, so your level of tissue damage in your intestines is not very bad.  Be thankful.   There may be reasons why you are not producing a high quantity of tTg IgA antibodies.  Consuming ten grams or more of gluten a day for two weeks to two months before blood tests are done is required to get sufficient antibody production and damage to the intestines.  Some undiagnosed people tend to subconsciously avoid lots of gluten.  Cookies and cakes do not contain as much gluten as artisan breads and thick chewy pizza crust.  Anemia, diabetes and thiamine deficiency can affect IgA antibody production as well.   Do you carry genes for Celiac?  They frequently go along with EDS.
    • rei.b
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By rei.b · Posted

      I was tested for celiac at the same time, so I wasn't taking naltrexone yet. I say that, because I don't. The endoscopy showed some mild inflammation but was inconclusive as to celiac disease. They took several biopsies and that's all that was shown. I was not given a Marsh score.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.